Filed to story: Bound by Honor (Aria & Luca) Drama Story
“He doesn’t trust Falcone and refused a meeting.”
“Will he change his mind?”
“He might, but I doubt it. I also heard a rumor from one of my contacts in England. A rumor about Falcone’s son.”
“Son?” I remembered dimly that the head of the Camorra had several sons, but that was all I knew. I hadn’t bothered with the Camorra.
“His oldest son Remo. He’s seventeen, and has disappeared with his brothers from the boarding school they attended. I don’t think it’s public knowledge in Las Vegas yet. Falcone might be eager to keep it hush-hush.”
“Why?”
“Because Remo Falcone supposedly wants to kill his father and take over the West.”
“Do I need to worry about him?”
“I don’t know, but from what I hear he’s spent the holidays killing for his father and the rest of the time for fun. His brothers may have attended that school but Remo, he’s a born and bred killer.”
As if I needed another worry added to my list. “If he’s busy killing his father, he won’t cause troubles elsewhere, I presume.”
“Maybe. But if a new Capo arises in Las Vegas, they might return to old strength, if he manages to unite the underbosses of the West.”
“I will consider doing something about the Camorra, but for now I don’t want to give them more reason to work with the Outfit.”
“Understood.”
“Keep your ears and eyes open, Orazio.”
“Will do.”
He hung up and when I turned, Aria was close behind, her palm against her stomach and worry on her face. I forced a smile. “Nothing for you to worry about.”
She tilted her head with a knowing look.
Matteo and I were on our way out of the Sphere and back home to our wives when a young man at the bar with dark hair caught my attention. He held himself with a certain air of self-assurance and barely restrained violence. His dark eyes locked on mine and he didn’t look away. He was a teenager, but his eyes revealed that he had seen and done more than most grown men. I stopped and so did Matteo.
“Do you know him?” I asked in a low voice, reaching for my Beretta.
Matteo shook his head, also reaching beneath his jacket.
The guy smiled a fucking twisted smile and rose. Scars littered his arms and one crossed his eyebrow. With a last challenging glance, he left my club. Matteo and I followed and the moment we stepped out I pulled my gun, my eyes searching the dark street for a sign of him.
“Luca Vitiello,” came a voice out of the dark.
I aimed my gun in that direction. “Step forward,” I ordered.
And he did, holding up his hands with that same twisted smile on his face. He didn’t show fear. I nodded at Matteo, who lunged and grabbed the guy’s arm and pressed his knife against his throat. The guy didn’t try to defend himself, didn’t even flinch, only stared into my eyes, and I took my own knife out. We’d see how long he’d hold up that twisted smile. Matteo dragged him deeper into the dark and I moved very close to the crazy fucker.
“Tape?” I asked Matteo.
He shook his head.
“I won’t scream,” the crazy fucker said.
“We will see,” I said quietly. “Who are you?”
His smile widened, and I lost my shit. I grabbed his arm and brought my knife down. Matteo clamped his hand over the guy’s mouth, but he didn’t need to. The guy shuddered but made no sound, and I wasn’t entirely sure if he didn’t enjoy the pain. A challenge.
Matteo gave me a look as he dropped his hand from the guy’s mouth.
“Who are you?” I growled.
“Remo Falcone.”
Fuck. “And what, pray tell, are you doing in my territory?”
“Looking for alliance. I’m going to kill my father and all his men and take over Vegas, and you can either be my ally or my enemy-it’s up to you.”
Matteo snorted. “To think there’s someone who’s more crazy than you and I.”
I gave Remo my coldest smile. “How about I kill you now?”
“Then my brother will have to hurt your wife.”